Organisation profile

Sustainability has many facets. Inter- and transdisciplinary research and teaching characterize the School of Sustainability. Scientists in our research projects work together in the laboratory, on the heath, in the grassland, in the classroom, with the city administration, with farmers, with non-governmental organizations, with companies, with students in the lecture hall and of course at their desks.

Furthermore, we work with regional and national political actors, e.g. ministries, as well as international organizations, e.g. UNEP, UNESCO, EU. We are part of national and international bodies, e.g. sustainability advisory boards of companies, member of the German Sustainability Award, World Biodiversity Council (IPBES), in order to contribute to social change with scientific findings.

Main research areas

Vision
Sustainability science investigates on a theoretical, conceptual and empirical level how to promote sustainable development and how to find and implement effective solutions for current social and ecological challenges. The aim is to create a more sustainable future.

Sustainability researchers are called upon to take responsibility for their research, which is anchored in existing scientific knowledge and methods and serves to make the world a better place for everyone.

Mission
We promote change towards a sustainable future by developing theories, concepts and practices of inclusive education for sustainability, research, governance and management.

We acknowledge the diversity and dynamics of values, norms and behaviour and contribute with transdisciplinary methods to ensuring that tensions and differences between different disciplines, methods, topics and standards are fruitfully taken up and used with productive compromises and further developments towards sustainable development.

Principles
The School of Sustainability is guided by the normative concepts of ecological system integrity and social and economic justice.

Ecological system integrity refers to the safeguarding of life-support systems, as well as the maintenance of the well-being of life on Earth.

With social and economic justice we strive for a world in which all people can fulfil their potential without endangering system integrity and the well-being of others.

Information about the School
The School of Sustainability includes...
... ca. 25 professors
... ca. 100 research assistants
... ca. 1000 students in Bachelor and Master courses

In various inter- and transdisciplinary projects we are constantly researching and working together on changes and solutions for current challenges.

  1. Published

    Sustainable digitalization – fostering the twin transformation in a transdisciplinary way

    Barth, M., Gossen, M., Lang, D. J. & Santarius, T., 13.03.2023, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 32, Sp1, p. 6-9 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Sustainable Energy: Risks and Opportunities of Biomass for Biofuel: The Case of Jatropha Cultivation in India

    Latschan, J., 2009, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 182 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  3. Published

    Sustainable entrepreneurship: Composing individual processes and collaborative transformations

    Schaltegger, S. & Johnson, M., 2019, Decent Work and Economic Growth: Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Leal Filho, W., Azul, A. M., Brandli, L., Özuyar, P. & Wall, T. (eds.). Cham: Springer, 11 p. (Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  4. Published

    Sustainable Entrepreneurship

    Schaltegger, S., 2013, Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility. Idowu, S. O., Capaldi, N., Zu, L. & Das Gupta, A. (eds.). Heidelberg: Springer, p. 2458-2462 5 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Sustainable Entrepreneurship

    Farny, S. & Binder, J., 19.01.2021, World Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurship. Dana, L. P. (ed.). 2 ed. Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 605-611 7 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  6. Published

    Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Innovation: Categories and Interactions

    Schaltegger, S. & Wagner, M., 05.2011, In: Business Strategy and the Environment. 20, 4, p. 222-237 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Sustainable Entrepreneurship as a Research Field? Evidence from a Systematic Literature Review

    Johnson, M. & Schaltegger, S., 2016, Academy of Management Proceedings 2016. Academy of Management (Briarcliff Manor, NY) , Vol. 62. 16175. (Academy of Management Proceedings; vol. 2016).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Sustainable Entrepreneurship – Creating Environmental Solutions: Part 1

    Schaltegger, S. (Editor), Beckmann, M. (Editor) & Hockerts, K. (Editor), 2018, Olney: Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. 129 p. (International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing; vol. 10, no. 1)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  9. Published

    Sustainable entrepreneurship: creating environmental solutions in light of planetary boundaries

    Schaltegger, S., Beckmann, M. & Hockerts, K., 2018, In: International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing. 10, 1, p. 1-16 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Sustainable Entrepreneurship in the Apparel Industry: The Case of Manomama

    Plieth, H., Bullinger, A. C. & Hansen, E. G., 2012, In: The Journal of Corporate Citizenship. 2012, 45, p. 123-138 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review